Oak Hill, WV (WOAY) Taking the family to the pool or lake is a fun way for everyone to cool off in the summer heat, but if children have a close call in the water, parents should be aware of the symptoms of dry drowning.
Also called delayed or secondary drowning, dry drowning can happen to anyone who has accidentally inhaled water while submerged.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital says that over 95% of children who have had a near-drowning incident are fine, but 5% develop symptoms of dry drowning, which is a medical emergency.
Warning signs can appear within hours or days after a water incident. For at least 24 hours after an incident, watch for difficulty breathing or speaking, irritability or behavior changes, coughing, chest pain, and unusually low energy or drowsiness.
If you see these symptoms, do not delay, and call 911 for emergency assistance. If a child has trouble breathing, keeping them calm can help the windpipe muscles relax.
If a child loses consciousness or stops breathing, have a bystander call 911, then administer rescue breaths and CPR until help arrives.
